Apparatus for counter current treatment



June 28, 1932. R. B. LEBO APPARATUS FOR COUNTER CURRENT TREATMENT Filed Oct; 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l a a a INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 28, 1932. R, LEBO 1,865,024

APPARATUS FOR COUNTER CURRENT TREATMENT Filed Oct. 3. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RQBERTB. L aBu INVENTOR.

%A TTORNEY.

Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE ROBERT 3. L130, 01' ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOP- IENT GQHPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR COUNTER CURRENT TREATMENT Application filed October 8, 1930. Serial Io. 488,205.

This invention relates to the counter-current treatment of fluids. The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which latter Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail of the apparatus;.and a o Fi 3 is a longitudinal sectionalwiew of a modi ed form of the apparatus. I

The apparatus is used for the countercurrent treatment of any immiscible liquids of diiferent gravities in the presence of a gas. The invention will be described particularly with reference to its use for the countercurrent treatment of olefin-containing naph tha with an acid, such as sulfruic acid, for the formation of alcohols. An inert gas, such as combustion gases, is used to facilitate the intermixingFof the liquids.

Referring to igs- 1 and 2, the device comprises a shell 1 which is divided by walls 2 -mto a plurality of vertical sections. A sub-' 'stantiall horizontal perforated plate 3 having ubble caps 4 associated with the perforations is disposed in each section in spaced relation to its bottom. N aphtha 1s introduced into the lower-most section above the perforated plate through a line 6. 7 Gas is introduced into the lower-most section below the perforated plate by means of a line 7. Acid, such 'as sulfuric acid, is introduced into the upper-most section above the perforated plate by means of a line 8. The relatively light gas and naphtha flow upwardly through the shell in counter-current relation to the heavier downwardly flowing acid. The naphtha is withdrawn from the uppermost section through a line 10 to a container 11 in which an entrained acid settles by gravity and the atter is returned through a line 12 to the section above the perforated plate. The treated naphtha is withdrawn through a line 13 to a suitable place of disposal not shown. Any gas. passing into the container is returned to the section through .a line 14. The gas is withdrawn from the section through a: line 15 to a separator 16 in which my entrained naphtha is separated from the gas and is returned through a line 17 to the section. The gas is withdrawn from the separator through a line 18 to a suitable place of disposal or can be returned to the shell through line 7 if desired.

The lighter liquid such as naphtha is separated from the heavier liquid and is pumped upwarly through the shell by meansof a conduit which communicates with a given section above the normal level of liquid in the section and opens into an upper section be low the perforated plate. The conduit comprises a settling chamber 2l having a gas space which communicates with the gas space of a given section through a line 22. The lower portion of the settling chamber com-- municates with the given section adjacent the upper surface of the perforated plate through a line 23 and returns any of the heavier liquid which settles in the chamber back to the section. An intermediate portion of the chamber communicates with an intermediate portion of the given section through a line 24 which permits the passage of a mixture of the acid and naphtha from the section into the settling chamber. A baffle plate 25 projects into the section adjacent line 24. A conduit 26 opens into the chamber at the normal level of liquid in the chamber and opens into an upper section below the perforated plate. The gas passing through the mixture of acid and naphtha in the given section agitates the mixture and thoroughly inter-mixes the same and accumulates in the gas space in the upper portion of the section. The gas is conducted from the gas space through line 22 into the container and in passing from the container through line 26 entrains naphtha and carries it into the upper section. The gas therefore constitutes a gas lift to pump the lighter liquid up the shell. The container separates the heavier liquid from the lighter liquid before the lighter liquid is passed to the next higher section. 95

A decanter is used for separating the lighter liquid from the acid and for delivering the acid to the next lower section. The decanter controls the proportions of acid and lighter liquid in each section. The decanter com- 100 prises a container 28 having a line 29*at its upper portion communicat ng with the given section at approximately the liquid level in the section. A bafile plate 30 is provided in the section adjacent line 29. A baflle 1s provided in the container and comprises an annular member 31 which depends from-the upper portion of the container and terminates in spaced relation to the bottom of the container. The container receives and stratifies the mixed liquids from the section, the lighter liquid being returned to the section through line 29 while a ortion of the heavier liquid is returned to t c section through a line 32. Line 32 opens into the lower portion of the container and opens into the given section above the perforated plate. A bafile plate 33 is disposed in the section adjacent line 32. The separated acid is conducted; from the container to a lower section by means of a passage 34. The passage34 extends upwardly through the bottom of the decanter and terminates in spaced relation to the bottom of the container. The passage 34 extends within, and in spaced relation, to the annular bafile 31.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 is particularly adapted to the treatment of a gas, such as a gas containing olefins, with an acid such as sulfuric acid, in order to obtain alcohols. Thorough contact of the gas and acid is effected by the use of relatively light solvent liquid for the gas such as naphtha.

Referring to Fig. 3, the device comprises a shell 36 containing a plurality of spaced perforated plates 37 containing bell caps associated with the perforations. The gas is introduced into the lower portion of the shell through a line 38 and the acid is introduced into the upper portion of the shell through a line 39. A body of oil such as naphtha is in troduced into the shell above each section through line 40. The gas bubbles upwardly through and mixes the body of mixed oil and acid above each perforated plate 37 and is withdrawn from the top of the shell through a line 41 to a separator 42 where any entrained oil is separated. The se arated oil is returned to the shell through a ine 43. The gas is withdrawn from the separator throu h a line 44. The acid is withdrawn from t e bottom of the tower through a liiie 45. The acid is separated from the mixed oil and acid above each perforated plate and is re-introduced into the shell above the next lower plate by means of a decanter 28 and conduit 34 exactly as has been described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Variouschanges may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell spaced substantially horizontal perforated plates in the shell having bubble caps associated with the perforations, containers communicatingwith the shell above the perforated plates by a plurality of conduits to receive and stratify mixed liquids from the shell, and a conduit leading from the normally heavier liquid containing portion of the container and discharging above a lower perforated plate, the lower-mostsection of. the shell having an inlet and an outlet below the perforated plate, the upper section of the shell having an outlet and eachsection having an inlet aboveeach plate.

2. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, spaced substantially horizontal perforated plates in the shell having bubble caps associated with the perforations, the plates dividing the shell into sections, containers having inlets opening into the shell above the perforated plates to receive and stratify mixed liquids from the shell, a conduit leading from the normally heavier liquid con taining portion of the container to a lower section, and a baflle in the container between the conduit and inlet, the lower-most section of the shell having an inlet and an outlet below the perforated plate, the upper section having an outlet and each section having an inlet above each plate. 4

3. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially horizontal per- 4. Counter-current apparatus comprising a i a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially horizontal per forated plate having bubble caps associated with the perforations, the plate disposed in each section in spaced relation to its bottom, a conduit communicating with a given section above the normal level of liquid in the section and opening into an upper section below the perforated plate, a settling chamber in the conduit communicating with the given section below the normal level of liquid in the given section, and means for separating mixed liquids of the given section and conducting the heavier liquid to a lower section, the lower-most section of the shell having inlets at least one of which is below the perforated plate and having an outlet, the uppermost section having an outlet and an inlet.

5; Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially horizontal perforated plate having bubble caps associated with the perforations, the plate disposed in each section in spaced relation to its bottom, a settling chamber communicatin with a given section to receive mixed liquids therefrom and to return the heavier liquid to the section, means communicating with the gas space of the section adapted to pass gas from the section into an upper section below the perforated plate, and opening also into the lighter liquid containing portion of the chamber, and means for separating the mixed liquids of the given section and conducting the heavier liquid to a lower section, the lower section having inlets at least one of which is below the perforated plate and having an outlet, the upper section having an outlet and an inlet.

6. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially horizontal per-. forated plate disposed in each section in spaced relation to its bottom and having bubble caps associated with the perforations, a settling chamber communicating with a given section to receive mixed liquids therefrom and to return the heavier liquid to the section, a broken conduit communicating with the section above the normal level of liquid in the section to pass as from the section into the settling cham er and aspirate the relatively light liquid from the chamber into an upper section below its perforated plate, and means for separating mixed liquids withdrawn from the given section and for conducting the relatively heavy liquid to a lower section, the lower section having inlets at least one of which is below the perforated plate and having an outlet, the upper section having an outlet and an inlet.

7. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially horizontal perforated late disposed in each section in s aced re ation to its bottom and having bub b e caps associated with the perforations, a settling chamber the lower portion of which communicates with a given section at approximately the upper surface of the perforated plate, the upper portion of the chamber communicating with the given section above the normal level of liquid in both section and chamber, an intermediate portion of the chamber communicating with an interv mediate portion of the section, a conduit openin into the-chamber at the normal level of liquid in the chamber and opening, into an upper section below the perforated plate mixed liquids o and means for separati fg the given section and or conducting the heavier liquid to a lower section, the lower section having inlets at least one of which is below the perforated 'plate and having an outlet, the upper section having an outlet and an inlet.

8. Counter-current apparatus comprising a shell, walls dividing the shell vertically into sections, a substantially perforated plate having bubble caps associated with the perforations, the plate disposed in each section in spaced relation to its bottom, a conduit opening into a given section above the normal level of liquid in the section and o emng into an upper section below the per orated plate, a container having an inlet opening into the given section to receive and stratify mixed; liquids from the section, a passage leading from the normally heavier liquid containing portion of the container in spaced relation to its bottom and opening into a lower section, an annular battle in the container encircling and spaced from the passage and terminating in'spaced relation to the bottom of the container, the lower-most section of the shell having inlets at least one of which is below the perforated plate and having an outlet, the upper section havlng 'an outlet and an inlet.

ROBERT B. LEBO. 

